Key retainer



R. B. FRENCH KEY RETAINER Sept. 7, 1948.

Filed June 18, 1 946 I uventar I TY EIENTLEYFKENCH By a Attorneys Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY RETAINER Roy Bentley French, Superior, W. Va.

Application June 18, 1946, Serial No. 677,559

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a key retainer and has for its primary object to support one or more keys in a position for ready use.

Another object is to keep a collection of keys together in a convenient and compact form for introduction into the pocket or purse of the user.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this inventiqn which embodies among its features a bar upon which keys are adapted to be threaded, a head at one end of the bar, a keeper detachably secured to the end of the bar opposite the head and spring pressed plungers encircling the bar between the head and the keeper for engagement with the opposite sides of one or more keys supported on the bar.

Other features include a spring pressed plunger encircling the bar and telescopically associated with the head, and a like spring pressed plunger encircling the bar and telescopically associated with the keeper, said plungers being adapted to hold one or more keys threaded on the bar at a point substantially midway between the head and the keeper.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side View of a key retainer embodying the features of this invention, showing a group of three keys supported thereon,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through Figure 1, t

Figure 3 is a side view of the bar and a fragment of the head, showing the re-entrant groove by which the keeper is attached to the bar,

Figure 4 is a side view of the keeper removed from the bar,

Figure 5 is an end view of the keeper, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of two keys, typical of those which are to be supported by the bar.

Referring to the drawings in detail my improved key retainer comprises a bar ill to one end of which is fixed a tubular head I I, the walls of which overlie a portion of the bar in concentric spaced relation thereto. Formed at the inner end of the head H is an inturned flange l2 forming a stop for the key engaging plunger to be more fully hereinafter described.

The inner edge of the flange I2 is spaced concentrically from the bar I!) and slidably mounted on the bar between the flange l2 and the periphery of the bar is a tubular sleeve l3 pro vided at one end with an outstanding annular flange M which is adapted to ride within the tubular head ll, while the opposite end of the sleeve I 3 is provided with a similar outturned annular flange l5 forming a presser head for engagement against the keys which are retained on the bar. An inturned flange I6 is formed on the end of the sleeve l3 and the opening therethrough is concentric with the bar [0 and has a sliding fit thereon so that the sleeve 13 will be held in spaced concentric relation to the bar ID. A compression coil spring I! surrounds the bar l0 between the flange l6 and the inner end of the head I I so as to normally urge the sleeve or plunger outwardly of the head.

Formed adjacent the end of the bar Ill 'oppo site the head H is a re-entrant groove [8, and slidably fitted over the grooved end of the bar H) is a keeper designated generally 19. The keeper l9 comprises a tubular body 20 having a head 2| formed with a central opening 22 into which projects a radial pin 23 for engagement in the groove [8 so as to hold the keeper IS in proper assembled relation to the bar It! and head H. The tubular body 20 of the keeper I9 is provided at the end opposite the head 21 an inturned flange 23 forming an axial opening 24 which aligns axially with the opening 22 and in which is slidable a plunger 25 comprising a tubular body having an outstanding annular flange 26 at one end which rides in the tubular body 20, and formed at the end of the sleeve 25 opposite the out-turned flange 26 is an inturned flange 21' which rides on the bar [0 and serves to hold the sleeve 25 in spaced concentric relation thereto. A presser flange 28 corresponding in all respects to the flange [5 of the plunger l3 extends outwardly from the outer end of the sleeve '25 as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings. Extending between the inturned flange 21 and the inner face of the end wall 2| is a compression coil spring 29 which corresponds in all respects to the spring ll previously described, so as to urge the sleeve 25 outwardly of the tubular body 20.

In use assuming that the parts are separted it will be understood that keys 3|! are threaded onto the bar as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 until they are moved into engagement with the flange [5 of the telescopic sleeve l3 mounted in the head H. After the desired number of keys have been placed on the bar the keeper [9 is mounted thereon by introducing the end of the bar into the opening formed by the inturned flange 21 so that the spring 29 surrounds the bar and the end of the bar It) will enter the opening 22. By properly aligning the pin 23 with the re-entrant groove l8 it will be evident that the keeper may be locked in place on the end of the bar opposite that carrying the head ll, thus causing the sleeves I3 and 25 to telescope into their respective end members so as to compress the springs I! and 29 and cause the flanges I5 and 28 frictionally to engage the opposite side faces of the keys 30. Obviously a key may be swung outwardly away from the group of keys so that the bit thereof extends radially from the axis of the bar l0 ready for use. Should it be desired to remove a key from the bar it is only necessary to press inward- 1y on the keeper IS and rotate the bar and keeper relatively so as to move the pin through the reentrant groove Hi to permit extraction as a keeper from the end of the bar. By thus removing the keeper keys may be added to those already on the bar or certain of the keys mounted thereon may be removed, and upon replacing the keeper it will be evident that the parts will; assumetheir original positions, with the keys independently rotatable about the bar l0.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: g

1. A key retainer comprising a bar upon which keys are adapted to be supported, a head at one end of the bar, 'a'keeper de'ta'chabl'y secured to the end of the bar opposite the head, a spring pressed plunger encircling the bar and telescopically entering thehead and a spring pressed plunger encircling the bar and entering the keeper said plungers engaging opposite sides of one or more keys supported on the bar and holding said keys substantially midway between opposite ends of the bar and cooperating flanges on the head, the keeper and the plungers to limit the movements of the plungers toward one another.

2. A ke retainer comprising a bar upon which keys are adapted to be supported, a head at one end of the bar, a keeper detachably secured to the end of the bar opposite the head, a spring pressed plunger encircling the bar and telescopically associated with the head and a like spring pressed plunger encircling the bar and telescopically associated with the keeper, said plungers being adapted to hold one or more keys threaded on the bar at a point substantially midway between the head and the keeper.

ROY BENTLEY FRENCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,586,904 Kuhn June 1, 1926 1,898,202 Murray Feb. 21, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 137,500 Great Britain Jan. 15, 1920 

